Phlox plant named ‘Cherry Cream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Cherry Cream’, characterized by its dark reddish purple and white bicolored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Cherry Cream’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Cherry Cream’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during October 2011. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Phlox cultivars with increased powdery mildew resistance and a compact growth habit.

The new Phlox cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Laura’, not patented, characterized by its deep fuchsia-purple and white bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2012 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2012 in Guadalupe, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Cherry Cream’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Dark reddish-purple and white bicolored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and reduced growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Flame White Eye ‘Barsixty’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,211. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Barsixty’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Barsixty’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter flowers than         plants of ‘Barsixty’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have lower growth vigor than         plants of ‘Barsixty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Cherry Cream’. The plants were approximately six months old. Plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately five weeks in a greenhouse and 14 weeks outdoors in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one before transplant and one at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Cherry Cream’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Cherry Cream’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately six-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately five weeks in a greenhouse and 14 weeks outdoors in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given two pinches, one before transplant and one at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 68° F. (15.5° C. to 20° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (13° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Cherry Cream’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Laura’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49             days.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium thickness, medium density.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to             −31.7° C.).         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 42.0 cm. Width: Approximately             36.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Low to moderate basal branching. Pinching             will improve branching.         -   Branch.—Quantity: Approximately 3 basal branches. Shape:             Round. Strength: Moderate, slightly brittle. Length to base             of inflorescence: Approximately 29.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young             stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146C, becoming woody             199C with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Moderately fragrant; sweet,             pleasant. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptic, slightly carinate. Margin: Entire,             minutely ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.             Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A             with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: 147C with venation of 145D.         -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Cherry Cream’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from late spring throughout summer.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,             flowers face upright and outwardly, self-cleaning. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 7. Fragrance: Moderately sweet and             pleasant. Height of primary: Approximately 22.0 cm. Width of             primary: Approximately 19.0 cm. Quantity of fully open             flowers per primary inflorescence: Approximately 150. Height             of secondary: Approximately 8.5 cm. Width of secondary:             Approximately 8.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per             secondary inflorescence: Approximately 30.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary             acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately             11.5 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length             of axillary: Approximately 2.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Diameter of             axillary: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately             pubescent. Color: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color:             NN155A with N74C.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Salverform. Diameter: Approximately 2.7 cm.             Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Typically 5 in a single whorl, base fused             into a narrow tube. Lobe shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Obtuse. Lobe length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Lobe width:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and             fully open: NN155D with base of N74A. Color of lower surface             when first and fully open: NN155D with a faint overlay of             N74B at base.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of inner surface: Smooth, glabrous with             lower 5.0 mm densely pubescent. Color of inner surface: N74D             with NN155D at base. Color of outer surface: N74C with             NN155D at base.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, lower half fused. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Length: Approximately             8.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of inner surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Color of inner surface: 146C with tip of             and central streak on upper half of N186A. Color of outer             surface: 146D with tip of and central streak on upper half             of N186A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primary erect,             axillary acute angle to peduncle. Length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately             2.1 cm. Filament length of free portion: Approximately             0.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 158B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Stigma             shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: 145D. Style             length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Phlox has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Cherry Cream’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 